Tear gas device



Nov. 15, 1938. v H. 1. STEVENSON 2,136,647"

TEAR GAS DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1936 HENRY .sTEvE/v50/v INVENTOR' ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1938 STAT-ES =A o rice 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tear gas devices, and more particularly to an'automatic tear gas firing or discharging device adapted to be placed at various locations within a building or dwelling, and to be'automatically fired by an actuating means to be hereinafter more fully described, and to be also manually actuatedfrom a remote control.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an alarm to be sounded or actuated simultaneously with the discharge of the tear gas.

The alarm may be so located with respect readily accessible.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a means or firing chamber for the tear gas cartridge which may be quickly and conveniently removed from the main body of the device for refilling, and the like.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawing Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my device showing the various elements thereof in working relation with respect to each other, and also a wiring diagram embracing an alarm, a switch, and a source of electrical energy.

Referring now more particularly to the draw- Reference numeral I indicates generally the main body of my device which is of substantially cylindrical form and tapered at one of its ends as at 2 toward the discharge end.

The interior of the body is formed with a main cavity 3 having a reduced portion 4 extending outwardly therefrom and lengthwise of the body. This extended portion is provided with key-ways 5. The opposite end of the cavity 3 opens into a smaller cavity 6 within which I mount a guide member I, apertured as at 8 to form a guide for a firing pin 9. One end of the guide member I is internally threaded as at Ill to receive a firing cylinder or barrel II, within which I place a tear gas cartridge I2.

'25 from the opposite side of the solenoid concartridge, it will be seen, is in the path of movement of the firing pin 9.

' Within the cavity 3 I' place a solenoid I3 having a movable core or armature I l associated therewith. The armature is normally disposed within 5 the reduced portion 4 of the cavity 3 under the influence of a spring l5 interposed between the pin it at one end of the armature and the end of the solenoid I3. Both ends, of the pin 66 work back and forth within the guide-ways 5. 10 In the path of movement of the lower end of the pin I6, I provide a switch ll pivotally mounted as at l8 within a recess I9 in the main body I. The switch is shaped as shown, and is adapted to alternatively come into contact with a pair of contacts and 2!. This switch may be disposed at some distance from the location of the device itself, and should remain open, as a safety measure, until setting the device for operation. 20

At one end of the main body I, I provide a plurality of electric terminals 22, 23 and 24. From the terminal 22, a wire 25 connects, at its opposite end, with the solenoid I3. Another wire 26 extends from the opposite side of the solenoid to the contact 20. Another wire 21 extends from the contact 2i to the terminal 24, and an intermediate wire 28 extends from the terminal 23 to the switch l8.

From the terminal 23, I extend a wire 29 to any convenient source of electrical energy, such, for instance, as a battery 30. From the opposite side of the battery, I extend a Wire 3| through a switch 32 and from the switch wire 33 connects with the terminal 22.

From the terminal 24, I extend a wire 34 to any desired type of alarm, such, for instance, as a bell 35. From the alarm, I connect with the switch 32 by a wire 36.

The operation of the device is as follows; the armature I l, as shown, is in an extended position with respect to the solenoid, the switch I I interconnects wires 26 and wire 28. rThe wire 28, of course, connects with terminal 23. The wire nects with the terminal 22 into the circuit represented by wires 29, 3| and 33 which embraces the battery 30 and switch 32. Upon closing the switch 32, the solenoid becomes energized and instantly throws the armature I 4 against the firing pin 9 with a resultant firing of the cartridge I2. Upon movement of the armature into the solenoid, the pin I6, at the outer end of the armature, will strike one end of the switch I! causing it to rock around its pivot point I8 and will switch the circuit from contact 20 over to contact 2|, which closes the alarm circuit as follows; through wires 21 and 28, wires 34 and 29, through the battery wire 3|, the now closed switch 32, wire 35, through the alarm '35 thence back into wire 34.

It is to be understood that the switch 32 may be of any approved type to function when placed in the path of an opening or closing door, window, or any other closure which is to be guarded against intruders. Moreover, the alarm 35 may be placed anywhere on the interior of a building or on the exterior thereof to sound an alarm wherever intended.

The source of electrical energy, while shown as a battery, may be in the form of a transformer, or any other source, but I prefer to use batteries of the dry cell type which may be conveniently incorporated with the invention so that it all may be handled as a unit, and also so that the batteries may be concealed to prevent their circuit being tampered with, as it is well known in many instances, an unauthorized intruder might out or otherwise disconnect the regular electrical circuit within a building in anticipation of rendering alarms, and the like, inoperative. While I have described a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily sugout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:-

1. A burglar alarm comprising a body member,

a single tear-gas cartridge removably secured in one end of the body member, electrically actuated means for. firing the cartridge, a double-throw switch disposed within the body member and within an electrical circuit embracing said cartridge firing means, an alarm circuit connected with said switch, an alarm embraced within said alarm circuit and adapted to be actuated by said double-throw switch simultaneously with the firing of the cartridge.

2. A burglar alarm comprising a body member, a single cartridge removably secured in one end of the body member, electrically actuated means for firing the cartridge, a double-throw switch disposed within the body member and within an electrical circuit embracing said cartridge firing means, an alarm circuit connected with said switch, an alarm embraced within said alarm circuit and adapted to be actuated by said doublethrow switch simultaneously with the firing of the cartridge, said double-throw switch adapted to break the circuit embracing the electrically actuated cartridge firing means and to maintainthe alarm circuit closed until manually broken.

30 gest themselves to others skilled in the art With- HENRY I. STEVENSON. 30

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2, 5756hT I November 22, 1958.

EDWARD B. GRAVES.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page5, first column, line 5, claim 5, for "coating" read coacting; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the same may conformto the record of the case in the Patent Office,

Signed and sealed this 27th day of December, A. Do 1958..

Henry Van Arsdal e (Seal) Acting; Commissioner of Patents. 

